Binder for turbine-buckets.



W. P. RICE.

BINDER FOR TURBINE BUGKETS. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1 1910.

1,01 7,467, Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

Inventor-i WalterFRice,

HIS oqtiornesP able length, as they must be in the low pres- UNITED STATES PATENT oriuon- WALTER F. RICE, OF QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB. TO COMPANY, A GOBPORATION 0F YORK.

BINDER FOR TUItBINE-BUCKETS.

Specification m" Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13., 1912. 1910. Serial No. 574,957.

To all whom it may concern: H

Be it known that I, WALTER F. RICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Quincy, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusett-s, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Binders for Turbine- Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for spacing and tying turbine buckets of unusual length, and its object is to prevent any vibration or distortion of said buckets when running. T Turbine buckets or blades are narrow and rather thin, so that when made of considersure stages, they are liable to warp or vibrate and thus interfere with the efliciency of the machine.

My invention provides a tie, brace or stay about midway between the ends of the buck ets, which holds them rigidly in position without materially obstructing the flow of the steam or other motive fluid.

The invention consists in a longitudinally slotted or channeled bar threaded through holes in the buckets in a line substantially parallel with the periphery of the rotor on which said buckets are mounted; the portions of said bar between the buckets being deformed by spreading apart the-walls of the slot so as to form abrupt shoulders abutting against the buckets. This tie-rod or binder need not fit the holes accurately, so that itcan be quickly thrust through the buckets before deformation. It can be of any desired shape in cross-section; tubular with an open slit along one side, circular with an open-radial groove, channel-shaped, V-shaped, or otherwise; the essential feature being two. normally parallel, spaced, longitudinal walls or portions connected or united along their adjacent inner edges only, which walls can be separated or expanded by a suitable tool applied between their outer edges after the binder has been threaded through the buckets.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a plurality of buckets spaced and'braced by my improved tie-rod or binder; Fig. 2 is a section along the line of the binder; Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the binder on a larger scale, taken on the line 3-3 Fig. 2; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are cross sections of modified shapes of binders, and Fig.

first instance for bucketsseventeen inches in length. About midway of each bucket is a hole 4, which may be circular or of any Ftlier preferred shape. Threaded through these holes is the binder 5 which is a bar having a longitudinal slot or groove formmg two side walls or portions 6.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the binder consists of a tubular bar slotted longitudinally. In Fig. 4- a channel bar binder is shown. Fig. 5 shows a solid cylindrical bar with a radial groove, and Fig.v 6 a V-shaped bar. Other shapes will readily suggest themselves.

After the binder has been threaded through the buckets, those portions which are exposed between them are deformed by spreading apart the walls 6 until an abrupt shoulder 7 is formed adjacent to each side of .each bucket, so that the buckets aresecurely held in place relatively to each other. A tool for effecting this deformation is shown in Fig. 7 consisting of tongs 8, one of whose jaws 9 fits the under side of the binder, whilethe other jaw 10 is wedgeshaped to enter between the walls 6 and spread them apart when the tongs are closed.

It will be noticed that my improved binder is in one piece and of substantial thickness; that its walls can be easily spread to give a pronounced shoulder; that said walls can be spread almost to a fiat condition in the center if desirable so as't'o ofler little resistance to the passage of steam; that there is a close engagement of the shoulders with the buckets; that the binder does not have to be fractured to secure pronounced shoulders,

and that the device is easy to make and apply.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention together with thgap paratus which I now" consider to represent-"the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the appa-- ratus shown is only illustrative, and that Ell] "U the invention ean he carried eut ether means.

ll hat I claim as new alnl tlesit'e to secure by Letters Pa tent of the United States it: I

1. lie eenihinatien with a plurality of turbine buel ets, of hinder passing through. saitl l1 tickets and havine' iitially an appt i l t shaped ere. etien the unions 0f the two opposite Walls of which between the budgets are after Vttl't'l expandetl entttattllg;

The combination with a plurality, of turbine buckets eat: a tender-passing thteuggh said. buckets, eemprising a hat having initially an open longitudinal slot 01 channel in one side thereoit totlninghm walls on the opposite sides of the slot 01 ehennel, the p01- tiens ef the Walls between the buckets being afterward spread apart.

3: The ceinbinatien with a plurality of turbine buckets hating holes about midway Grit their length, of a binder consisting of a hat threaded through saitl holes and PISW Vldtltl with an open slet or channel in one sitle thereof forming two alls, one at each sitle' at? said channel or slot, which are spread apa t between said baskets to formabtupt shetilclets abutting against saicl buckets.

at. The eenihinatien with a plum turbine mieltets of a binder thttt; thteugh the same, comprising a hat having initially two parallel longitudinal peii'tiens eehnectecl along one edge enly thereof, the sections eii said portions between saitl buckets being afterward bent eut waiwlly so to be Wider there than the sections that pass through said buckets.

5. The combination with a plurality 0t turbine buckets, of a binder threaded through the same, consisting of a bat having; along one side two adjacent separable pottions spread apartonly between said buckets. 6. The combination with a plurality of turbine buckets, of a binder threaded through the same having two oppositely clisposed Walls united along" their adjacent inner edgesonly with an open space between saitl. Walls, the Walls being expanded outwardly between adjacent buckets.

In Witness whereof, l have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of July, 1910.

WALTER F. RlCE. [Ls] it i 

